Content provided by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation
STARKE COUNTY, Ind. – The Starke County Economic Development Foundation is stepping up marketing efforts of the county’s Rural Opportunity Zone. It is a federally approved qualifying, low-income census tract that offers significant incentives for private-sector investors through deferred payment on capital gains. The goal is to revitalize areas that are still recovering from the Great Recession of 2007-2009.
Starke County’s Rural Opportunity Zone is bordered by U.S. 30 to the north, the Yellow River to the south and the Marshall and LaPorte County lines to the east and west. It includes the town of Hamlet and the Starke County airport.
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation assembled a team of local shareholders to work with the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) and Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to develop a marketing prospectus. Members of the local team provided renderings and photography, which saved Starke County considerable amount of money. OCRA provided $2,500 grants to each community to help market their Rural Opportunity Zones.
“Our Opportunity Zone is especially rural,” SCEDF Executive Director Lisa Dan said. “Aside from the Town of Hamlet, it is largely comprised of undeveloped land, including a shovel-ready industrial site.”
The Starke County team decided to produce a video to help investors see the potential for development and highlight amenities like the county’s proximity to Chicago and transportation infrastructure. They hired local production company Mirth & Whimsy for the project, which was completed last week.
“We are thrilled with how this video turned out,” Dan said. “It showcases our available property along with our fantastic public schools, outdoor amenities, and sense of community. We hope investors will see it and imagine the possibilities.”
The video can be viewed by clicking here.
